JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary: The Assistant Buyer is an entry-level position within the Buying organization. This position performs the technical and mechanical aspects of the buying role and completes functions that contribute to the Buying Team's ability to achieve sales, gross margin, inventory, and turnover goals for assigned categories of merchandise while learning the long-range business strategy within the area of responsibility. This position reports directly to a Buyer. The Assistant Buyer works closely with the buying and merchandising support teams in the execution of product selection, assortment planning, vendor communication, inventory productivity management, and marketing of specific lines/categories to significantly improve profitability and maximize shareholder value. Job Duties/Responsibilities: Financial Planning and Forecasting: - Generates weekly financial reports (sales, markdowns and receipt) and analyzes data to draw conclusions and provide recommendations to the team on opportunities to improve performance. - Provides input and participates in the business and line review meetings to evaluate sales, markdowns, receipts and best/worst sellers. - Working in tandem with the buyers and associate buyers to organize the presentation for business and line reviews and provide explanation of strategy and entry/exit plans. - Utilize analytical tools to determine and recommend the appropriate markdown strategy, (this includes timing and the price matrix). Presents the markdown cadence for approval and enters the plan in the system. - Generates reports to analyze item performance versus last year and competitors. Provides recommendations to the buyer for forecast estimates. Product Selection and Assortment Planning: - Completes the new vendor setup by verifying and approving the required vendor documentation. Monitors and collects on the vendor allowance agreements for defects, markdowns, signage, etc. - Based on category, may manage item set up process. Liaison between Inventory Management and Vendors on accuracy of items and details. - Assists in the development, selection, and negotiation of product to include cost, subsidy and terms. - Performs analysis required to assist in the development of the buy plan. - Responds to store inquiries for merchandise by researching planograms, inventory allotments, store demographics, sales performance, etc. Recommends appropriate solutions and executes upon buyer approval. - Refines and optimizes planograms to deliver innovative and profitable approaches to merchandising product. - Actively maintains awareness of products, customer preferences, competitors to keep current on ways to better service customer in assigned categories. Advertising: - Creates and manages the input of advertising plan: Coordination and setup of the ad program, proper setup and picturing of the item, obtains samples, communicates to the vendors, advertising team, and logistics team. - Approves advertising turns-ins and proofs photos and written copy. - Proofs point of sale signage and maintains integrity of quality of signage for ease of store execution level. - Determines amount of subsidies to be collected from vendors for advertising and ensures timely collection. - Analyzes advertising results to assist in future planning. - Monitors and maintains promotional performance and provides recommendations to Associate Buyers/Buyers based on analyzing and interpreting sales trends, reporting promotions by sales, gross margin by product/category and store to assist in future strategy and driving improved performance. Inventory Productivity Management: - Establishes collaborative relationships with Inventory Management to ensure availability and the timely delivery of merchandise. - Determines product that needs to be marked down, builds a strategy, monitors performance of sell-thru during clearance cadence to determine timing of further reductions. Collects funding from vendors to offset margin loss. - For seasonal businesses, develops melt-down plan and monitors sell-thru to plan to determine actions that need to be taken: markdowns, etc. - Participates in the process of building and maintaining relationships with vendors and interacts with the vendor community while adhering to the company standards and codes of ethics. - Perform other duties as assigned. Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree from a four year college or university (preference given to Merchandising, Finance and Retail Management degrees); or fours years related experience and/ or training, or equivalent combination of education and experienceRequired Skills: - Demonstrated leadership abilities and dedication to customer service - Strong analytical, problem solving, and business finance (retail math) skills - Highly organized with an impeccable skill to follow-through and follow-up - Highly effective written and verbal communication skills - Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; can balance multiple priorities - High focus on details to drive execution - Highly creative, thinks out of the box with a an innovative mind-set - Strong PC skills, Windows-based programs, particularly Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint - Permanent Employment Authorization/U.S. Citizen Preferred Skills: Minimum of 1 - 2 years of experience preferred; experience in retail a plusEEO EMPLOYER